WWE SmackDown live results: The Road to WrestleMania 38 continues
With WrestleMania 38 just over one week away, tonight’s SmackDown takes place from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
WWE Champion Brock Lesnar is set to face Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a title unification match in the main event of WrestleMania 38 night two. Last week, Lesnar was out for blood after Reigns attacked him at WWE’s Madison Square Garden house show.
Lesnar hunted down Reigns and The Usos in a forklift as they tried to escape the arena. They were able to get away before Lesnar destroyed their SUV. They fled in a second vehicle, but Lesnar ripped off the car door with his hands as they drove off.
Two matches previewing title bouts for WrestleMania have been announced for tonight. Ahead of the Women’s Tag Team title match at WrestleMania, Sasha Banks, Rhea Ripley, Zelina Vega, and Shayna Baszler will face off in a fatal four-way match.
Vega & Carmella are defending their titles against Banks & Naomi, Ripley & Liv Morgan, and Baszler & Natalya at WrestleMania.
A SmackDown Tag Team title match between The Usos and Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs has also been made official for WrestleMania. Tonight, Nakamura takes on Jimmy Uso in a singles match.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and her WrestleMania challenger Ronda Rousey should also appear tonight. Our live coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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They recapped Brock Lesnar attacking Roman Reigns and The Usos with a forklift last week.
In the back, Kayla Braxton approached Brock Lesnar standing next to Roman Reigns locker room door. Lesnar noted he paid some fines and bought some cars. He even bought Reigns a new blood red SUV. Lesnar explained that management told him he couldn’t have any physical contact with Reigns unless he’s provoked.
Lesnar decided to wait around for Reigns. He then walked into Reigns’ empty locker room. He sat down and put his legs up on a table and broke it.
Rick Boogs introduced Shinsuke Nakamura. They recapped Boogs defeating Jey Uso to earn a title shot against The Usos at WrestleMania.
Shinsuke Nakamura (w/Rick Boogs) defeated Jimmy Uso (w/Jey Uso) (9:37)
Jimmy and Nakamura had a good match.
Before the match, The Usos jumped in the ring and tried to attack Boogs and Nakamura. The faces fought back with Boogs press slamming Jey into Jimmy.
The match started after the commercial. Jimmy had the early advantage with a shoulder tackle and wrist lock. Nakamura broke free, but Jimmy responded with another shoulder tackle. Nakamura recovered and hit a running knee on Jimmy draped over the apron.
Jimmy fought back and rocked Nakamura with a clothesline. He followed up with a back suplex for a near fall. Jimmy slowed the pace down with a chin lock. He sent Nakamura to the floor and set up for a dive. Nakamura recovered and caught him with a kick to the head.
Back from the break, Jimmy was firmly in control, but Nakamura fought back with a dropkick. Nakamura hit a running knee in the corner for a near fall. Jimmy briefly fought back, but Nakamura hit a knee off the second turnbuckle.
Nakamura set up for the Kinshasa, but Jey attacked Boogs at ringside. Jimmy took advantage of the distraction and hit a superkick for a close two-count. Jey was furious, so he grabbed Boogs guitar at ringside.
Boogs got back to his feet and grabbed the guitar. Boogs then threw Jey into the ring post. Jimmy was distracted, which allowed Nakamura to hit the Kinshasa for the win.
They recapped Kevin Owens dressing up as Stone Cold Steve Austin on last Monday’s Raw.
In Reigns locker room, Lesnar was eating grapes and drinking champagne. He didn’t like the champagne, so he spat it out and threw the bottle. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee noted that Reigns is on his way to the arena.
Cole and McAfee discussed Undertaker going into Hall of Fame in one week immediately following SmackDown on Peacock. They mentioned that Vince McMahon is inducting Taker. The fans broke into a loud “Undertaker” chant.
They turned their attention to Shad Gaspard receiving the Warrior Award this year at the Hall of Fame. They discussed Gaspard’s passing.
In the back, Kayla Braxton interviewed Drew McIntyre. He admitted that he enjoys making Happy Corbin’s life difficult. He wants to wait to beat Corbin on the grandest stage of them all at WrestleMania.
They recapped Corbin going from broke to becoming Happy Corbin. It highlighted Corbin’s friendship with Madcap Moss. Corbin said the best moment was when they beat down McIntyre at Day 1.
Corbin and Moss watched on the monitor in the back. Corbin bragged about beating down McIntyre and claimed they could make a movie about him. Corbin added that he could win an Oscar. Moss laughed and said they could call it “Bald-fellas.” Moss laughed, but Corbin didn’t think it was funny.
Kofi Kingston vs. Ridge Holland (w/Sheamus & Butch)
They recapped Holland defeating Kingston last week after Butch tried to interfere. Cole noted Holland caused Big E’s neck injury.
As Kingston made his entrance alone, the ring announcer said he was accompanied by Xavier Woods, which was odd since they treated Woods’ return as a surprise moments later.
Kingston announced that he’s not facing Holland tonight and introduced the returning King Woods to a big reaction. Woods takes on Holland instead.
Xavier Woods (w/Kofi Kingston) defeated Ridge Holland (w/Sheamus & Butch) (:47)
They had a very short match, but the fans loved seeing Woods’ return.
Holland had the early advantage when he attacked Woods’ leg. Woods quickly recovered and caught Holland with a small package for the quick win.
Cole said they received an announcement from Roman Reigns. They showed a video from Reigns and Heyman in the back of their car.
They talked about their day, going to a steak house and stopping by Madison Square Garden. Reigns demanded that Lesnar leave his locker room by the time he gets to the Barclays Center, or he’s going to make Lesnar bleed again.
Cole wondered if Reigns’ threat is enough reason for Lesnar to attack him.
Ronda Rousey-Charlotte Flair Segment
They recapped Charlotte Flair attacking Rousey last week.
They kept this segment pretty short. Rousey was a bit shaky at first, but it improved when she appeared to improvise.
Rousey made her entrance and waited in the ring. She grabbed the mic and promised to defeat Flair for the SmackDown Women’s title.
Rousey actually misspoke and called it the SmackDown Championship. She started to correct herself, but she stopped and wondered why she needed to add the word women. Rousey thinks it should just be the SmackDown Championship. She then forcefully promised to win the SmackDown Championship.
Rousey didn’t want to waste any more time and demanded Flair come to the ring. Charlotte Flair appeard on the big screen. Flair mocked Rousey and noted she was not at the Barclays Center.
Rousey talked about breaking someone’s arm when she was young. She broke so many arms over the years she lost count. She called them the forgotten.
Rousey added that if Flair beats her, it’ll be the biggest moment of her career. However, when Rousey breaks Flair’s arm, she’ll be one of the forgotten.
In Reigns’ locker room, Kayla Braxton interviewed Brock Lesnar. She wondered if Lesnar should leave because of Reigns’ warning. Lesnar wasn’t worried and told Braxton she should find Roman because he’s running out of things to smash. He then smashed a lamp.
Championship Contenders match: Angel (w/Humberto) defeated Intercontinental Champion Ricochet (2:00)
Before the break, they announced the match as Ricochet vs. Humberto, but it changed without an explanation. It only gets more confusing because Ricochet takes on Humberto in an impromptu match anyway.
Ricochet and Angel had a fine match while it lasted with a typical distraction finish.
Angel had the early advantage with a side headlock. Ricochet fought back with a springboard clothesline for a near fall. He climbed back to the top, but Humberto caused a distraction. Angel took advantage and rolled up Ricochet for the win.
Angel and Humberto started to walk off, but Ricochet got on the mic. He wasn’t going to let it end like that. Therefore, he challenged Humberto to get in the ring for a match. Ricochet made some poor choices tonight.
Championship Contenders match: Humberto (w/Angel) defeated Intercontinental Champion Ricochet via count-out (7:03)
Ricochet and Humberto had a good match until the weak finish.
Ricochet was firmly in control with a dropkick. Humberto rolled out of the ring and yelled at the fans. Ricochet hit another dropkick and sent Humberto back to the floor. He followed up with a huge dive.
Back from the break, Ricochet was back in control after hitting a series of running uppercuts in the corner. He followed up with a springboard moonsault. Angel caused a distraction, and Humberto rolled up Ricochet for a near fall. Ricochet fought back and hit a Northern Lights suplex into a vertical suplex for close near fall.
Ricochet climbed to the top rope, but Angel pulled Humberto out of the ring. Ricochet walked the ropes and hit a huge crossbody onto Angel after he pushed Humberto out of the way.
Angel rolled under the ring. Ricochet then hit a torando DDT off the table on Humberto. He rolled Humberto back in, but Angel grabbed his legs from under the ring, and Ricochet got counted out.
In the back, Megan Morant inteveiwed Sami Zayn. He discussed taking on Johnny Knoxville in an Anything Goes match at WrestleMania. Zayn’s excited about all the different ways he can hurt Knoxville.
Cole and McAfee started to discuss McAfee’s WrestleMania debut when Austin Theory suddenly appeared. He knocked McAfee’s headset off. McAfee chased Theory from ringside to the back, but Theory jumped into Mr. McMahon’s office. McAfee was furious.
Back from the break, McAfee rejoined Cole on commentary. He was furious at Theory.
Cole changed subjects and discussed Triple H announcing his retirement earlier today. McAfee and Cole both thanked Triple H for everything he did for them.
Fatal Four-Way: Sasha Banks (w/Naomi) defeated Queen Zelina (w/Carmella), Rhea Ripley (w/Liv Morgan), and Shayna Baszler (w/Natalya) (8:38)
This was good fatal four-way match.
The heels jumped out of the ring, leaving Banks and Ripley alone. Ripley and Banks went back and forth until Zelina pulled Banks out of the ring. A massive brawl broke out with everyone in the match, including the four on the floor. Cole noted the match is no disqualification.
Back from the break, Carmella, Morgan, Natalya, and Naomi were all sent to the back during the break for getting involved.
Zelina was briefly in control but missed the double knees in the corner. Banks locked on the Bank Statement on Zelina, but Baszler stopped her from tapping. Baszler tried to break Zelina’s wrist, but Banks locked them both in the Bank Statment instead.
Ripley broke up the submission with a running dropkick. Ripley went for riptide on Baszler, but she slipped out the back. Banks then hit a backstabber on Baszler and Ripley.
Baszler and Zelina ended up on the floor brawling. Ripley hit a cannonball off the apron, wiping out Baszler. Zelina took advantage and hit a hurricanrana off the apron onto Ripley. Zelina tried getting back in the ring, but Banks recovered and locked on the Bank Statment for the win.
Banks and Naomi celebrated after the match.
In the back, an SUV pulled into the parking lot. Paul Heyman stepped out and opened the door for Roman Reigns. Heyman was worried, but Reigns told him not to worry about anything.
Cole and McAfee ran down the lineups for WrestleMania night one and two.
Roman Reigns-Brock Lesnar Segment
Reigns and Lesnar were good in the segment. They’ve done the Lesnar destroying security guards angle several times, but it never gets old.
Roman Reigns slowly made his way to the ring. He demanded that Brooklyn acknowledge him. The fans popped. Reigns asked Heyman if Lesnar was still in his locker room.
Heyman wasn’t sure, but he knows that Lensar is in the arena. He admitted to being afraid. Reigns told him not to worry. He demanded that Lesnar leave his locker room.
They cut to a shot of Reigns’ locker room on the big screen, but it was empty. The fans broke into a “suplex city” chant. They then showed Lesnar next to Reigns’ SUV with a pickaxe. Lesnar desotyred the car, but Reigns claimed he didn’t care because he had three more.
Lesnar started walking towards the ring. Reigns became afraid and wondered where he was going. Lesnar’s music hit, and he made his way to the ring through the crowd. The fans went crazy for Lesnar.
Lesnar stood on the announce table as security ran out and surrounded him. Reigns taunted Lesnar from the ring. Lesnar jumped off the announce table and hit one of the guards with a flying knee.
Lesnar viciously beat down the security guards with a chair and chased Reigns and The Usos. The Bloodline got away, but Lesnar continued to destroy security. He even chased off McAfee and Cole as well.
In the back, Reigns promised to defeat Lesnar at WrestleMania. Back at ringside, Lesnar posed on the announce table to end SmackDown.
Next Week: WrestleMania SmackDown features the Andre The Giant Battle Royal with participants Finn Balor, Apollo Crews, Commander Azeez, Madcap Moss, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander, Drew Gulak, Reggie, The Viking Raiders, Mansoor, Shanky, R-Truth, Jinder Mahal, Robert Roode, and Damien Priest.
Plus, Intercontinental Champion Ricochet defends against Angel and Humberto in a triple threat match.